Colin Cowherd Calls Out ‘Quarterback Dads’ After Shedeur Sanders’s Draft Fall

Colin Cowherd Calls Out ‘Quarterback Dads’ After Shedeur Sanders’s Draft Fall

Colin Cowherd had a message for the so-called “quarterback dads” following Shedeur Sanders’s surprising fall in the NFL Draft. The rookie, now with the Cleveland Browns, recently addressed why he slipped so far in the draft, claiming that “99 percent” of the blame lies with critics of his father, Deion Sanders, the head coach at Colorado and a former NFL/MLB star. While it’s impossible to verify that claim, Cowherd seems to agree with him.

“Quarterback dads have become like pageant moms,” Cowherd said on his show. “Your intentions are good, but you’re actually hurting your sons. Shedeur’s got it right.”

Cowherd went on to say that NFL teams are not interested in parents dictating where their sons play. He added, “Get out in the sun and get burned. Deion was in the sun. He spent too much time on TV talking. Dads, stop talking. Nobody cares.”

"Dads, stop talking. Nobody cares."@ColinCowherd criticizes Deion Sanders and other parents who meddle in their kids' athletic careers. pic.twitter.com/2Y1rkneKnh

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 27, 2025

There’s some truth to Cowherd’s point. Deion Sanders is a unique case, and his high-profile persona likely fueled much of the media attention around Shedeur’s draft position. If Shedeur’s last name had been something more common, like Smith or Jones, and his dad an accountant, it’s fair to say the narrative would have been different. Still, the idea of advising someone like Deion to “stay in the shade” seems almost comical given his history in the spotlight—asking him to hold back is probably a non-starter.

It’s also a bit ironic that Cowherd, who spends hours a week talking on TV, is advising others to talk less.

While it’s true that player empowerment has given more influence to parents, Deion Sanders stands in a league of his own when it comes to sports dads. His influence is so unique that it’s hard to say how much his experience represents the broader trend of “quarterback dads.”

Despite the passage of time, Shedeur’s draft slide remains a topic of conversation. He’s even had to go online to deny rumors about his spending habits. The media buzz around him is unlikely to die down anytime soon—it will likely only become more professionalized as time goes on.